WHO WE ARE
S.F. LIFE (Living Food Enthusiasts) is a non-profit group that began in 1987 as the San
Francisco Living Foods Support Group. Our goals are to provide public education and member
support for individuals and families who are pursuing the healthful benefits of the living
foods, raw foods and fruitarian diets and lifestyles. The living foods lifestyle involves
eating a diet of predominantly, or totally living and raw vegan foods, natural self-health
care, physical fitness and spiritual development practices, and other ecologically
beneficial activities. We network with other organizations who share mutual interests in
vegan and vegetarian nutrition, health, spirituality and ecology.

OUR SERVICES
Each month, usually on the first Sunday, we hold open-to-public living foods pot
luck events, the event includes lectures by educators in the field of living food
nutrition and natural self-healthcare. The events are held in San Francisco, at 630
Valencia St. We provide our members with newsletters containing informative articles
on nutrition, natural healing and lifestyles, plus living foods recipes, restaurant
reviews, and a calendar of events. We also operate a health library, organize nature
walks, and camping trips. Regularly updated event information can be
obtained by calling our sproutline: 415-701-2855.

· Healthful supportive camaraderie.
· Discounts for potluck events.
· Discounts for books and other items sold at events.
· Free access to our book library.
· Access to our equipment library at a nominal charge.

LIVING AND RAW FOODS
Based on scientific evidence and our personal experiences, we believe that the most
healthful diet for us is living or raw fruit and vegetables, and their seeds. Living foods
are foods with their enzymes (the givers of their life force) in the activated state, such
as ripe apples, fresh carrots and leaf vegetables, and sprouted seeds, nuts, beans and
grains. Raw foods include all living foods plus those foods whose enzymes are in a dormant
stage, such as dried seeds, nuts, beans, and grains, which when activated by water, can
come to life and germinate and grow into sprouts. Living and raw foods all lose their life
force, or potential life force, and substantial nutritional value when they begin to
naturally decompose and when cooked with heat above 116 degrees F.

Studies have shown that the nutritional value of raw foods is far
superior to cooked foods, and that the heat of cooking can alter the chemical composition
of foods in ways which render them detrimental to our health. It has been well documented
that many people worldwide have lived in superior health and attained extraordinary
longevity on a raw foods diet as part of a lifestyle including vigorous exercise. A number
of our members have lived in excellent health for years on a diet of nearly or all raw
foods, and will testify that their sense of well-being is greater when they eat living and
raw foods as compared to cooked foods.

LIVING FOODS POTLUCK GUIDELINESPotluck events are open to
the public. However, members and non-members are requested to bring enough living
(un-cooked), minimally processed, preferably organically grown food for at least ten(10)
servings, and to bring their own eating utensils(bowl,/plate/mug, knife-fork-spoon).
The potluck fee is FREE for members and $2 for non-members if you
bring a potluck dish to share. If you do not bring a potluck dish to share, the
additional cost is $8.00.

You'll still need a bowl or serving utensil. Be sure to tag your
serving pieces. If first participants are unable to bring food, a donation is asked
to make it fair to other participants who have brought a pot luck dish. However, a
pot luck dish is much preferred. Experiences has shown that $10 is a realistic
minimum to prepare an adequate dish for a pot luck dinner.

For healthy digestion, optimum nutritional benefits, and efficient
elimination, we advocate and provide instruction on proper food combining. Food combining
is the practice of preparing and eating foods in compatible combinations as required by
our digestive physiology. Dr. Ann Wigmore, the founder of the current raw/living foods
movement and Dr. Herbert Shelton, the father of the natural health science system called
Natural Hygiene, have both spent many years researching food combining and have written
extensively on the subject. We ask that all participants follow the food combining
guidelines when preparing your pot luck dish.:

fruit:
Combine with no other foods. Eat only on an empty stomach, and wait 30 minutes before
eating other foods.

Fats (nuts & seeds & their sprouts,
avocado, coconut):
Avoid mixing these foods. Combine only with non-starchy vegetables, except it is O.K.
to combine avocado with any type of vegetable.

Starches (potato, squash, corn, carrots,
grains):
OK to mix these foods and combine with any type of vegetable, except tomato.

Bean and grain sprouts: Avoid mixing
these foods. O.K.
to combine with any type of vegetable, except tomato.